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Sidelines Kalani Simpson |
Take your column
back to the LabDEAR sports columnist:
>> "I read your article on Division II softball and my first comment is 'University High girls softball.' They jammed and nobody said anything.
"Your article might have been more convincing had Kalaheo pulled off the victory, but UH Lab School, with a total enrollment of 100 girls from grades 9-12, is the epitome of a small school. That's 25 girls per grade. Oh yeah, the (championship game) score was 10-0. Honokaa and Lanai have small student enrollments, but UH Lab may be just as small.
"Moreover, the students at UH Lab are true scholars in that every student who graduates from this school will have taken chemistry, physics and calculus. ...
"UH Lab took a team of nine or 10 girls into the Division II state tourney ... some who had little prior softball experience, and persevered. Not all Oahu teams are powerhouses. This island still has small schools like University High that deserve and diligently earned their state championship. Your article is thought provoking but it nevertheless should've acknowledged the tremendous accomplishment that these young women and their coaches have achieved through hard work and team effort. ... Auwe, Kalani. I hope you find time to write an article that underscores University High as this year's state high school girls softball champions.
"P.S. I do not have any daughters on this team."
COMMENT: P.S. I love that last line.
You wrote the story better than I could have. Congratulations, University.
>> "There were no losers in the D-II level games at Wahine Stadium. There was great support in the stands, and proud players and coaches. And howz this, when Lanai was rallying against Kalaheo, the Lanai supporters were drowning out the Mustang supporters. It was fun.
"Afterward, both teams hugged.
"And us guys in the stands and later outside high-fived each other.
"Kalaheo has only gone to the states once in softball and that was 10 years ago.
"Oops, talked too much. ... OK, I'm pau."
COMMENT: On second thought, I like that ending even better. It's brilliant. I think from now on I will end every column I write with: "Oops, talked too much. OK, I'm pau."
>> "Oahuans seldom appreciate N-Isle success and achievement. Reed Sunahara of four-sport fame was not well understood. Aaron Sumida, the great Kona quarterback who later won a title in the Ivy League, was generally dismissed. Good athletes come from everywhere."
COMMENT: I remember when Ka'u's Haddon Wong Yuen made third-team All-State at quarterback. Looking back, it's still amazing that something like that happened.
>> "I guess it's true, there were many people that we didn't even know who were cheering us on this past weekend, and it was the best thing ever next to seeing my dad with his shirt off cheering his butt off for our team with a big smile on his face (by the way, he lost his voice and got sun burnt ... hehehe)."
COMMENT: He knew the job was dangerous when he took it.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com
